Note: This is the transcript of a lecture given by Zhang Yaozhong (张耀忠) at Beijing Institute of Technology (北京理工大学讲座) on April 6, 2008
Translated by Joshua Hehr
Thank you to the Wu Style Taijiquan Research Association for arranging this opportunity for me, thank you to the Beijing Institute of Technology for providing this lecture hall, and thank you all for purchasing my new book. Thank you everyone!
My topic today is "Sudden Enlightenment and Penetrating Understanding of Taiji Internal Force." I think everyone is quite interested in this topic. Because regarding this taiji force, I've been through it all. I practiced taijiquan for 20 years without understanding what taiji force really was. I learned many routines—old routines, new routines, long routines, short routines, fast routines, slow routines, solo practice, partner practice... all were empty forms. When making contact with someone, there was nothing in my hands, no root in my feet, and I would be pushed away with just a touch.
I'd say to myself, I'm not a small person and I'm not stupid, so why can't I do it? It's because I hadn't mastered taiji force! No one told me, no one revealed the secrets. After learning these secrets, you'll be able to do it. Even those who have never practiced taijiquan before—if I tell you the secrets, you can do it immediately! In the past, no one told you!
So today, I will share this knowledge with you, allowing you to experience sudden enlightenment, with skill immediately entering your body, producing instant results. You'll definitely be different when you leave compared to when you arrived, and your future practice will be completely different from before.
Before getting to the main topic, let me first talk about the many benefits of Wu Style Taijiquan.
Characteristics of Wu Style Taijiquan Everyone knows the saying "Taijiquan is good!" as stated by Comrade Deng Xiaoping. But when we say "Wu Style Taijiquan is even better," some comrades may not be as familiar with this claim.
Why do we say this? In September 1999, the "Jingwu" magazine published a "Special Issue on Wu Style Taijiquan," and on its cover it stated that "Wu Style Taijiquan created three great miracles in modern times."
The first great miracle: It gave birth to the new school of martial arts novels, establishing the positions of Liang Yusheng, Jin Yong, and Gu Long as the three giants of the genre. This happened because Wu Jianquan's son, Wu Yi, was teaching taijiquan in Hong Kong. At that time, practitioners of White Crane Kung Fu looked down on Wu Style Taijiquan and proposed a challenge match. Wu Yi said, "Let's fight then!" He was already over 60 years old at that time. Hong Kong wouldn't allow the match, so they went to Macau. The White Crane practitioner was only in his 30s. Some people have seen the video recording—what was the result? Wu Yi struck the White Crane master's nose with one punch, causing him to bleed profusely and lose his fighting ability. Liang Yusheng wrote about this incident, becoming the pioneer of the new school of martial arts novels, serialized in Hong Kong magazines. Later, Jin Yong and Gu Long also emerged. Jin Yong and Wu Yi were good friends. When writing his novels, if there was something he didn't know, he would invite Wu Yi over for tea and conversation, and then write down what he learned. In his novel "The Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain," he even mentioned taijiquan's "aerial force," which Wu Yi had told him about.
After seeing the video, some people criticized Wu Yi, claiming he wasn't using taijiquan. This is due to a lack of understanding. In challenge matches, taiji free fighting is used, not push hands. Wu Yi was using the "planting punch" in his taiji free fighting. Some might ask: How could he hit the bridge of the nose? Because he first extended straight, then planted downward. His planting punch only went halfway through before breaking the opponent's nose bridge, causing such bleeding that the opponent couldn't continue competing.
The planting punch is very powerful. When a taijiquan punch is thrown, it's different from external martial arts—it's not about mass times acceleration, but rather about internal-external triple coordination.
How is it executed? When throwing this punch, don't think about hitting the person. After fixing your eyes on them, connect your fist with your front foot, as if punching your own foot, with the foot coming back to meet the fist. That force is several times greater than mass times acceleration.
If you don't understand taijiquan and say Wu Yi wasn't using taijiquan, how is it not taijiquan? It's taijiquan free fighting! Free fighting is different from push hands. Push hands involves peng, lu, ji, an, and releasing force. Free fighting uses punches when punches are needed and kicks when kicks are needed. Most taijiquan styles use a 70% hand, 30% foot ratio, but Wu Style Taijiquan uses the feet throughout. Look at the stepping patterns: Chen Style Taijiquan uses a 60-40 stance distribution, Yang Style uses 70-30, but Wu Style has one leg supporting the body, concentrating weight on one leg, thereby freeing three-quarters of the limbs. Considering both hands and both feet as four limbs, three-quarters are liberated. For example, in "Embrace the Seven Stars" posture, both hands and one foot are freed up—do you understand? Only one foot is engaged in combat. Why? Because the other foot is empty! In "Retreat and Ride the Tiger," there's another foot. In "Wild Horse Parts Mane," another foot. In taijiquan, distinguishing between substantial and insubstantial is essential—why? To free up that leg, ready to kick at any moment. But when you perform the form, you don't see the Wu Style Taijiquan kicks—they're concealed rather than exposed. Now that leg has been freed, it can pull you in and kick you. This is a characteristic of Wu Style Taijiquan.
Some say Wu Style Taijiquan is characterized by the "川" character stepping pattern or by having diagonal movements that contain straightness, but those aren't the main features. The main feature is having one leg support the body weight, freeing the other leg to be ready for kicking, stamping, stepping, and stomping. "Hands are like two doors, but it's the legs that win the fight." Legs are longer than arms, and feet have more power than hands. When the opportunity arises, you deliver a kick—that's free fighting.
This is the first great miracle.
The second miracle is longevity and maintaining youthfulness. In this area, Wu Style Taijiquan is the champion among all martial arts styles.
Among Wu Style Taijiquan practitioners: Wu Tunan lived to 105. Ma Yueliang—Wu Jianquan's son-in-law—lived to 99. Wu Yinghua—Wu Jianquan's daughter—lived to 91. Yang Yuting—my grand-teacher—lived to 95. And Jiang Changfeng lived to 99. They can truly be called a community of longevity. The gentleman who lectured here last time is 85 years old, yet he still seems to be in his prime! You all saw him yourselves. He's still learning, saying he wants to understand the mysteries and secrets of taijiquan in his lifetime—essentially pursuing this taiji force.
Note: Refers to Mr. Qian Yucai (钱育才, 1922-2018). In 2018, Master Qian was already 96 years old and still frequently participated in taijiquan exchanges and push hands activities.
Third, Wang Peisheng, a practitioner of Wu Style Taijiquan, engaged in countless matches throughout his life without a single defeat, making him perhaps the last of his kind in modern times. How did taijiquan become famous? Because of the earliest legend "Invincible Yang"! And Yang Banhou's ban lan chui (deflecting punch), no one could withstand his ban lan chui. The ancestors of our Wu Style Taijiquan learned from Invincible Yang and his son Yang Banhou, and it was passed down from them. But these glorious achievements were created by our predecessors, not by us. We should feel honored, but feeling honored is not enough—we must also strive ourselves, daring to surpass those who came before, daring to emerge from blue yet be more brilliant than blue, to carry forward and bring glory to our school.
What is Taiji Force
Taiji force, broadly speaking, consists of 25 types of force, with 8 commonly used forces: peng, lu, ji, an, cai, lie, zhou, and kao. These are the 8 forces. Among these 8 forces: peng, ji, zhou, and kao are offensive, while lu, an, cai, and lie are neutralizing.
Lu counters peng, an counters ji, cai counters zhou, and lie counters kao. Here we're referring to teng, nuo, and ba (yielding, moving, and neutralizing), and besides these, there are also upward, downward, and horizontal movements. Among the 8 forces, the most important is still the embracing force. Force permeates throughout taijiquan from beginning to end, and runs through all eight methods—each contains force.
What is peng force? Some say force is like water, capable of both supporting and capsizing a boat. Applied to our bodies, specifically to our hands and the backs of our hands, it's a six-directional force. When I extend my hand, there is force in every direction it encounters. Above and below; outside and inside; front and back. All six directions—up, down, front, back, left, right—have force. When you extend your hand with substance, you can intimidate your opponent, giving them a shock.
How do we find this force? Generally, we discover it through practicing the form, finding it move by move. Of course, you need a teacher's guidance. Three years of hard practice is not as valuable as one pointer from a clear-minded teacher. Without a teacher's guidance, you could practice your entire life and never find it.
The Common Characteristic of Taiji Force is Reverse Thinking
Due to time constraints, I cannot explain every move in detail, but I'll tell you some common principles and share the most effortless and efficient secret for developing taiji force. What is this secret? It's "reverse thinking." Simply change your mental approach with a 180° turn. Taijiquan trains what is contrary to normal. What you learn in taijiquan transcends common knowledge. As Laozi said: "Reversal is the movement of the Dao. Weakness is the function of the Dao. Without action, yet nothing is left undone." This reversal isn't political rebellion, but a reversal in movement and intention.
For example, young people typically enjoy arm wrestling, which I used to do frequently, applying force directly with the engaged hand. Taijiquan does exactly the opposite. After gripping someone's hand, you stop thinking about that hand and focus on your other hand instead. You concentrate on your free hand, secretly and stealthily connecting with an invisible hand. As a result, your engaged hand develops a force that your opponent cannot overcome. Don't believe it? Try it yourself, try it with each other—reverse thinking.
Thinking about the hand you're using is called double-weighting
In taijiquan, you should not think about the hand you're using. If you think about the hand you're using, it's called double-weighting. "Those who practice diligently for years yet cannot apply their skills are invariably controlled by others, simply because they haven't realized their double-weighting problem." Struggling directly with whatever part makes contact is not taijiquan at all—that's an outsider's approach! You must think in the opposite direction.
When pushing with your right foot, think of your left foot; when pushing with your left foot, think of your right foot
Taijiquan consists of five punches and seven kicks. When using your feet, when pushing with your right foot, you shouldn't think about your right foot; when lifting your right leg, don't think about lifting your right leg. What should you do? When pushing with your right foot, think of your left foot; (think) left foot pushing the ground, right foot kicking; (think) right foot pushing the ground, left foot kicking. Conversely, in the Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg posture, when you need to lift your knee to strike the groin, don't think about lifting your knee. If you think about lifting your knee, it won't work. Instead, think left foot pushing the ground, right knee rising; right foot pushing the ground, left knee rising. Only then will you generate horizontal force—it's all about the opposite.
When using your right hand, think of your left hand or left foot; when using your left hand, think of your right hand or right foot
When using your right hand, think of your left hand; when using your left hand, think of your right hand. Or when using your right hand, think of your left foot; when using your left hand, think of your right foot. Or when using your right foot, think of your left hand; when pushing with your foot, imagine it's your palm heel supporting, when your toe points, it's your middle finger extending infinitely far. Think about the rear hand! When moving a hand, don't think about that hand; when moving a foot, don't think about that foot. When using a hand, don't think about that hand; when using a foot, don't think about that foot.
Everything is reversed! Fist, palm, hook, foot. When using your elbow, don't think about the elbow; use your laogong point (center of palm) to find your jianjing point (shoulder well), or use your rear elbow to find your front elbow—just don't think about the elbow you're using. See how this is contrary to how ordinary people think?
So as long as you can shift your thinking, you'll enter the Taiji Way, the Taiji Gate. You can randomly choose any taijiquan example, any movement, tell me and I'll explain the secret of how to generate force.
Three Circles of Energy Center
I'll tell you how to immediately develop skill. Cloud Hands follows three circles: the hand-foot circle, elbow-knee circle, and shoulder-hip circle. These are the three circles of energy center. How does the hand-foot circle work? When this hand comes across, I'm communicating with the heel of my left foot—they respond to each other, they coordinate with each other. Continuing forward, it moves to the outside edge of the foot, then to the nail of the little toe, and finally to the nail of the big toe. When you turn your hand, you connect with the right foot's big toe, little toe, outside edge, and heel. Just by moving this way, your hand is no longer empty—it has substance. This is the hand-foot circle, the same for both left and right. Try it yourself—hold my hand and see if you can feel it? This is the hand-foot circle.
The elbow-knee circle works like this: my left hand below tries to touch my left knee, but my left knee evades this hand. When I try to touch my right knee, the right knee welcomes this hand. My left middle finger seeks the shaohai point of my right elbow, but the shaohai point evades this hand. This is working with the hand-foot circle and the elbow-knee circle.
How does the shoulder circle work? You see, my shoulder well point connects with my hip joint. The right shoulder well connects with the left hip joint (finding it from behind). And on this side, the left shoulder well connects with the right hip joint, finding it from behind. From behind means when you cloud this way, you use the shoulder well to find the hip joint, and power emerges there. Look, do you see it's there? If you want to use this hand? Use the left shoulder well to find the right hip joint—look, now I can strike.
So when we join hands, connect, you see I secretly use my left middle finger to find the shaohai point of my right elbow, just like this. This means that once you grasp this secret, you'll develop skill immediately—why would you need three months or half a year? You don't.
Boxing and Meditation as One, Each Step a Stance
I'll tell you how to practice boxing in a way that's effortless, energy-efficient, and still develops skill. Some martial artists practice standing postures, needing to stand in postures for 3 years, some for 8 years. Others practice seated meditation. In Taijiquan, each step is a stance—what kind of stance? The centered stance. Look at this "Embracing the Seven Stars"—this is a stance, isn't it? When you can adjust to the point where you feel others cannot push you over, that's a stance. Understand? This is another stance. From the crown of your head to the soles of your feet. Whether it's a bow stance or a sitting stance, each step is a stance. So you're practicing standing postures within the form itself. When you embrace the Seven Stars like this, stand for quite a while, then hook your left foot, swing your right foot, position it here again, stand for a while, then reverse. This is a single exercise! Isn't this stance training? After you establish the stance, if someone comes to push you, you need to be able to respond and adapt. That's called centered stability.
Where is this stance? It's in the two kidneys. For example, if my left leg is the substantial leg, my left kidney becomes the axis. You can move however you want once you've planted this stance and established the kidney. Therefore, practicing boxing and stance training are the same thing; boxing and seated meditation are the same thing—boxing and meditation as one. Why do we say boxing and meditation are as one? When I stand in this stance, I think only of oneness, not of duality—it's both effortless and skill-producing.
Effortless Skill Development
Where is the secret? Just place your intention on a point at the center back of your substantial leg's thigh—right in the middle of the back of the thigh. Put your mind there, and you'll stand firmly. It's the same with the bow stance: place your intention on that center point at the back of your substantial thigh, and you'll be stable. Go ahead and try me—I can still adapt, and not only adapt, but my hands will have substance, not emptiness. Because I'm focusing on just one thing, my mind is unburdened. After focusing on this one point, power emerges, and I conserve energy. If you don't understand this principle, you'll move blindly and waste your essence, energy, and spirit—that won't work. For example, in "Brush Knee and Twist Step," after pushing your hand to this position, if you try to push it further forward—that's over! You're harming yourself—that's being greedy for skill and damaging your energy.
Another method is to place your intention on your ear tips. If your substantial leg is the right leg, focus on your right ear tip, and your spirit will awaken. When you shift your weight to the left leg, focus on your left ear tip—you can do this, right? Think of the left ear tip, and you'll have power. This is universally applicable. It's the same with push hands—during push hands, place your attention on your left ear tip when your left leg is the supporting foot. No matter how I approach with my hands, just focus on your left ear tip, and you'll definitely succeed.
Isn't this universally applicable? If you didn't learn anything else from today's lecture, remember this: when practicing, if your weight is on the right leg, focus on your right ear tip; if your weight is on the left leg, focus on your left ear tip. Just think this way and you're done—you'll save effort, nurture your health, and develop skill.
My Experience Learning Martial Arts
Before meeting my teacher, I was the principal of the nautical school at Houhai. Back then, I would go out in the morning and see people practicing martial arts—they were quite skilled. I asked if they would teach me, but they didn't know me and ignored me. The next day, I went again, still hoping someone would teach me. At that point, a younger man came out, though he was still in his fifties. He told me, "Go south and find Wang Peisheng—Wang Peisheng can even strike people with his ears." Wow, I was really excited when I heard this—he can strike people with his ears? He gave me the address, and I immediately rode my bicycle there. When I arrived, I said, "Teacher Wang, I love Taijiquan, please teach me!" He agreed.
At first, he taught me the Eight Methods of Taiji, but I never asked him how to strike people with his ears. After spending more time with my teacher, without even asking, he naturally revealed this skill. So this ear-striking technique is truly something special.
The Smart Learn from Fools, the Able from the Disabled, the Living from the Dead
I've told you the method, but everything depends on you—external factors work through internal causes. Enter such a mental state where nothing exists in the classroom, as if entering a place without people, where thoughts become quiet and distractions disappear. Only when your mind enters that state of haziness, vagueness, and dullness will skill emerge in your hands. If you're too clever and your energy is floating, it won't work—you must quiet down. You must enter that mental state, just like in qigong practice, where you must enter the qigong state to be effective. You need to enter that Taijiquan state. Mr. Wang Peisheng said: "Clever people learn nothing." The smart should learn from fools—knowing nothing else, only knowing one thing, not knowing two. That's how it works. The able should learn from the disabled—as if this hand isn't mine. The living should learn from the dead. What does "dead" mean? The dead have no reaction to external disturbances. My approaching hand is an external disturbance—if you pay attention to my approaching hand, that's wrong. Whether I move my hand or not, you should have no reaction. I should only think of my "one," like a fool. As Wan Laisheng said: "Taiji practice leads to ultimate foolishness, only then can you succeed." Foolishness means simplicity—great wisdom appears as foolishness. This is a type of high wisdom. To enter this wisdom is to recognize that Taijiquan is unlike ordinary things.
Footwork Must Be Properly Positioned
Regarding Taijiquan footwork, steps must always be properly positioned, with specific requirements for the front, back, left, and right of each leg. You only need to master one aspect at a time. For example, with the bow stance, the front requirement is generally that the tip of the nose, the tip of the knee, and the tip of the big toe should form a vertical line. The key point is that the tip of the knee should be able to kneel on the base of your big toenail—at that moment, power will emerge in your hands. For the back, focus on the center of the back of the thigh, maintain that point, and power will emerge in your hands—this is for the back. For the outside, when your greater trochanter aligns over your ankle bone, power will also appear in your hands. For the inside, draw energy upward from the Zhao Hai point at the inner ankle to the root of the thigh, then immediately to the waist—at this point, you've got it. For the center, align Bai Hui (crown point) and Yong Quan (sole point) vertically, and once they're aligned, power will appear in your hands. Think of it this way: our thumb works well, index finger works well, middle finger works well, pinky works well, but only the ring finger lacks strength! However, once your Bai Hui and Yong Quan are aligned vertically, the strength in your ring finger becomes substantial. Most simply, if you find all this too complicated, at minimum, can you relax your hip? Just relax the hip of your substantial leg. Relax the hip and power will emerge in your hands. The same applies to the bow stance—step into a bow stance, relax the hip, and power will emerge in your hands. My teacher called this "Buddha sitting on a lotus throne"—it's as if I were a Buddha with my buttocks sitting on a lotus throne. Imagine yourself sitting on a lotus throne, and power will emerge in your hands. Then, just a single little finger can push someone away.
Various Training Methods for "Embracing the Seven Stars"
Today I will specifically explain this "Embracing the Seven Stars" posture - how to emit power, how to project someone, and how to control someone. Form the "Embracing the Seven Stars" posture, set up the frame, facing me. Now I'll tell him, and you all remember this: the first intention is to align the tailbone with the back heel. Imagine the back heel rising to find the tailbone. Just this concept. He just thinks about this. Now focus on that intention - the tailbone aligning with the back heel, the back heel rising to find the tailbone. Now I'll approach with my hands, pushing freely - you stay steady. No matter how I approach with my hands, you receive my hand. It's just this one intention. It's as if between the tailbone and the back heel there's something like a fluorescent tube, a beam of light, a line. Just that one intention. This is the first method.
There's also a second approach. The tip of your nose aligns with the tip of your big toe - are they aligned? This is for controlling someone. Think about your big toe. See how he's lifting me up now. This is for controlling.
Let me teach you another one for projecting someone - "Embracing the Seven Stars." The external form doesn't move - it's about intention, not movement. The rear hand seeks the front foot - this is for projecting. Use the empty hand to mentally reach for the front foot, and you'll lift me up. This is for projecting someone.
About Push Hands
When two people connect hands, don't think about pushing your partner. If you focus on pushing them, you're seeking achievement, and seeking achievement depletes your energy, which is harmful to health.
What should you do? Let your hands communicate with your feet—this way, energy doesn't scatter outward but remains circular.
No matter how your partner approaches with their hands, always keep your hands communicating with your feet. Don't focus on pushing them—focus on your hands finding your feet. Do you understand?
This is what we mean by "when upper and lower coordinate, it's difficult for others to enter." What is "upper"? The hands are upper, the feet are lower.
Be constantly mindful that your hands never leave your feet. No matter how you move, my hands always respond to my feet. You understand?
If I push you, as long as your hands communicate with your feet, won't you simply uproot me?
Your hands must communicate with your feet. Regardless of your opponent, "be as if there is no one when someone is present." I could be standing here as big as I am, but you shouldn't see anything except your own feet. Understand? If you push hands this way, no one can penetrate your defense.
Have you read "The Short Course on the History of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union"? What did Stalin say at the end? The story of Antaeus, who had boundless strength, and whom no one could defeat. But one day, someone suddenly lifted him up, and he was finished! Why was he finished? Because his feet left the ground. The earth was his mother. Only when his feet were planted on the ground did he have strength.
Remember, when practicing boxing, your hands must always communicate with your feet.
I've taught you many things today. I can say I've done justice to your long journey here, ensuring your visit wasn't wasted. Just remember one thing, and when you go back, your hands will have skill, allowing you to make a leap forward.